HELP!! Student Finance refusing to pay out?!

fashion991

Hey guys,

so basically i studied a 2 year foundation degree at college, and I'm now in my third year at uni, so i am entitled to 5 years funding (now on a 4 year course), so my parents paid for first year with their own money as i wouldn't be entitled to any for this year. I was also told at the time that years 2/3/4 would be paid for by student finance after speaking with multiple people on the phone.

So now, i got a letter the other day stating that next year will be my 6th year so they won't give me tuition fee or a maintenance loan even though its my 5th as they didn't pay for my tuition in first year.

Surely this is not right?! how can they now say that i won't get any funding for my LAST year after i was told many times i would be in first year and i can't afford to fork out another 3,500 when i don't even have a job. :mad:

Please help!!

Lokolo

Yes they are correct. Sorry to be a bit harsh but you should have done your research. It does not matter if your parents paid for it, you were entitled to it and so it counts towards your allowances.

fashion991

they told me i was entitled to it in first year so how can they change their mind now? doesn't seem right to me.. i did a lot of research before i started uni and thats what they said to me.

plus i wasn't entitled to first year to be paid by student finance. thats why my parents paid for it..

Lokolo

Its quite simple.

You are entitled to degree course length + 1. So 5 years study.

You have studied for 5 years, now going into 6th. Your 5 years are now gone.

fashion991

yes. but I've only had 4 years worth of money off them. not 5.

SuperCat007

Complain and/or send a letter with evidence of them telling you this to them.

Normally if you send in a complaint it is handled by people who are much more helpful than telephone advisers and who aren't anywhere near as patronising!

flea72

fashion991 wrote: »

yes. but I've only had 4 years worth of money off them. not 5.

Its not based on how many years you have claimed, its in how many years you were entitled to claim

So even if you dnt take the money, its still classed as having taken it. You are currently in yr 5th year of study, so your entitlement stops at the end of this academic year.

You should have got your parents to fund yr final year, not yr first. Even if this wasnt made clear to you at the outset, i doubt you will get far complaining as all the sfe paperwork clearly states how funding works

fashion991

No I was told I had to fund first year myself, and then they (student finance) would fund the last three years.

flea72

But did you make them aware of yr previous 2 yrs study, as this is what has maxed out your entitlement

fashion991

Yes they were fully aware of that. I explained everything in first year and they STILL said id get the last three years of funding for uni as that would make it to the 5 years.

amiehall

I'm sorry you've had such poor advice (from SF and from this thread...)

I have a few pieces of bad news. Firstly, while a complaint may get SF to admit they made mistakes in their advice, legislation doesn't permit them to pay you what was offered, they can only pay you what the rules say you're due. So complaining may make you feel better but in cash terms, it's a waste of time if they've now assessed you correctly in line with the rules.

I have some other bad news. As I understand the rules, you would only have been entitled to funding for a 1 year top-up from your foundation degree to an honours degree. Whether you're allowed to use that year's funding against the final year of a new degree is outside of my knowledge but I suspect no.

Basically you achieving your foundation degree qualification is NOT the same as studying 2 years of a degree course and then dropping out. Your route gives you less funding overall. I suggest you seek specialist advice from student services at your uni. Someone who really knows the rules and what uni specific funding may be available should be available for appointments.